Test Match Special at 50

John Arlott, without a shadow of a doubt, was the very best that ever went on air with TMS, and Brian Johnson ran him a close second. My commiserations to all of those too young to have ever heard them. Arlott had a rich southern burr and was a poet with words. Johnners had the rich, plummy tones of the Queens English. Both of them were easy on the ear, brilliantly descriptive, funny and entertaining.

Blofeld is also an entertainer, never mind that he gets half of it wrong these days. Agnew and Selvey are brilliant and Frindall is vastly under-rated. In fact, I would go as far as saying that, with the loss of Benaud, Bearders is the only man on air with a full knowledge of the history and Laws of cricket.

I’ve been a fan of TMS for 30 years and I know what I want. Voices with personalities, knowledge and entertainment value. Baxter made sure we had that, now who knows? I used to be able to score from the radio but no longer. In the CWC, we went up to 5 overs without hearing the score! Aunty Beeb is going for generic commentators now, those who can do a bit of footie, bit of cricket, bit of ruggers and a bit of anything else. Sad, sad loss.

TMS at the World Cup was more of a Five Live team because of the ODI aspect, even if they did ship in a few of the gold crowd. But I can listen to any commentary no matter how inaccurate – for example, the Warks v Derbyshire coverage that insisted on pronouncing Katich ‘Kateesh’.

I’m not a fan of Blofeld I’m afraid. But Aggers and Vic Marks are probably my version of a ‘dream team’ and only Atherton or Bumble could even get close to turning over to Sky’s commentary when at home.

Being too young/too late a convert for the infamous phrases, I think my best moment was actually of a match I was in attendance – the last Windies test at Edgbaston. Vaughan brought Giles on at the City end after bowling several from the Pavilion. Vic Marks pipes up with ‘I wonder if he’s doing that because Darrel Hair has a reputation for having little time for batsmen who pad out the spinners.’

Next ball, lbw.

If any one has recordings of old test match special broadcasts, I am interested in getting hold of them.

I first heard TMS in 1999 and I have missed loads and loads of matches.

For obvious reasons I cannot put my e-mail address here but if someone can reply, I may be able to find away of them giving me their contact details without making them available for spammers to capture.

Favourite commentator? Blowers without a doubt. He just brings the games alive, even when they are dead.

Some of the modern commentators are to bland and without character. However out of the very recent people, I do like Arlo White.

I also prefer it when TMS doesn’t go back to regular programming during rain breaks. They could chat all day with rain and I would be happy.

It is TMS that has given me my love of cricket. Although I go to watch cricket at grounds, I cannot see how someone can sit in front of a TV for 8 hours. I would much rather be doing things with TMS on in the background.